Medical problems associated with severe obesity (known as comorbidities). In patients with medical conditions caused by severe obesity, the weight limits for surgery have been lowered to a BMI of 35 or greater.

Significant Health Risks of Morbid Obesity

Morbid obesity poses a significant risk to life and may cause such life-threatening conditions as:

high blood pressure

diabetes

gallbladder disease

gynecologic and other cancers

high blood lipids

arthritis

sleep apnea syndrome

premature death

Weight Loss Surgery to Treat Morbid Obesity

Due to the high incidence of failure of non-operative methods of weight control in the morbidly obese, the many types of weight loss surgery are considered more effective methods of treatment for severely obese individuals.

In 1991, a National Institutes of Health consensus development panel fully endorsed gastric restrictive surgery as appropriate treatment for patients with medically severe obesity. Additionally, the risks of NOT having surgery far outweigh those of the surgery itself.

It’s important to remember that weight loss surgery is a process. Surgery is only one piece of the puzzle. Aftercare, life change, social support — these are other important steps to ensure long term, sustained weight loss.